Tight steering on flybridge?

[Tylor R]

Srv240 supposedly the steering was tight on the fly bridge so it was "disconnected" I have not actually seen how it's been done. Nor do I know how you "disconnect" it. So any info would be awesome. also why would it begin to get stiff? But the bottom is ok? I hope it's not really hard to fix.

Thanks!

 

[Stee6043]

Silly question but is this a cable steering setup? If so they do sell cable lube systems. I used 'em all the time when riding dirt bikes. They work like a charm...

 

[Bt Doctur]

If it is cable type,
#1 usually from the upper to the lower, from the lower to the drive/rudder.
#2
from the upper to the drive/rudder, from the lower to the drive/rudder

 

[Tylor R]

Silly question but is this a cable steering setup? If so they do sell cable lube systems. I used 'em all the time when riding dirt bikes. They work like a charm...

View attachment 135314

thats my question as well. i havnt got to see it yet. im just trying to figure it all out before i can get there so i already kind of know what im looking for. ya know? idk where to look idk what to look for. i was told they have been disconnected. not sure if it was cut or what. thanks tho

 

[Tylor R]

If it is cable type,
#1 usually from the upper to the lower, from the lower to the drive/rudder.
#2
from the upper to the drive/rudder, from the lower to the drive/rudder

1 im not sure if its cable.. 2 does it matter if its i/o?

 

[DaveKamp]

Hi Tylor-

So the steering systems on the '70's era SRV flybridges consisted of a helm unit (which is either a rack and pinion arrangement acting on a push-pull cable) or a rotary type helm unit, again, acting on a push-pull cable.

The reason why the steering becomes stiff, is either because a helm unit is binding up, OR a steering cable is binding up.

Typically, the former is from saponification... someone assembled it with one type of grease, and someone added more grease of a different type (like assembled with a Molybdenum Disulfide [like an Open Gear Lubricant], and someone added a Sodium 'wheel bearing' grease, or a Lithium (NGLI-2). The bases, being different, start a chemical reaction that binds the two metals, turning them into something like stone...

The later is simply from the steering cable cycling back and forth, and wearing through the liner.

In neither case would I recommend trying to just lube the cable... for reasons of both former and latter... first, there's some OTHER type(s) of greases already in there, and second, if the liner has worn, lubing it will be futile.

What BT was describing, can be figured out fairly easily. If you look at the steering tiller arm (behind the engine, high on the transom plate) you'll see where the steering linkage connects to the tiller arm. That linkage PROBABLY has a hydraulic assist actuator in it, and on the other side will be either one steering cable, or TWO.

If there's TWO steering cables, ONE will go to the cabin helm, the other to the flybridge helm.
If it's ONE steering cable, that cable will lead to the cabin helm unit...
and when you look at the helm unit in the cabin, you'll see that there's a second cable connection (or if it's a rack-and-pinion, there'll be a second rack, with a second cable) which leads to the flybridge helm.

To disconnect, that flybridge helm's cable will be disconnected either at the tiller arm, or at the lower helm.

You might have difficulty finding replacements for those helm units and cables. IF you decide that you really want them both operable, you might find them more expensive, but switching to a hydraulic steering kit to be a much nicer system. If so, you'll need a proper kit of fittings, and you'll need to replace the lower helm's vent with a solid plug, as all venting will occur up at the top helm.